The NHL's Best Rivalry

[RadioGaGa 162]

Not sure if we've ever had this discussion before. I searched for "rival" and "rivalry" but got search errors both times.

Some of these have real history, some are relatively new based on recent playoffs meetings...others are strictly geographic.

Discuss.

[thejackal 46]

habs-leafs

habs-nordiques

habs-bruins

wings-avs

flames-oilers

any of the tri-state area teams

[kosydar 0]

I'm obviously biased because I'm a Leafs fan, but Habs/Leafs. Leafs/Sens is good, too, although its been one-sided as of late. I used to love the Wings/Avs games, but it seems like the intensity just isn't there anymore. Too many of the players who made those games great (McCarty, Kocur, Lapointe, Lemieux, etc.) aren't there anymore. It seems like that rivalry was between those teams, not franchises.

[RadioGaGa 162]

now with polly goodness

[mack 44]

Leafs/Sens

Devils/NYR

Even if games and series seem tilted, it's still got a buzz going for it over some bullcrap game like Pittsburgh v. Phoenix.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I'm obviously biased because I'm a Leafs fan, but Habs/Leafs. Leafs/Sens is good, too, although its been one-sided as of late. I used to love the Wings/Avs games, but it seems like the intensity just isn't there anymore. Too many of the players who made those games great (McCarty, Kocur, Lapointe, Lemieux, etc.) aren't there anymore. It seems like that rivalry was between those teams, not franchises.

Habs/Leafs is what I'd vote too...followed by Calgary/Edmonton.

Funny Rivalry story. A friend of mine was in NJ for the Leafs game a couple weeks ago. He said in the middle of the game for no reason...fans started chanting "Rangers Suck!" That's hardcore rivalry...when they chant it during other games.

I've heard that at 'Nicks games..."Potvin sucks" gets going every now and then.

All this rivalry talk on the eve of ANOTHER Habs/Leafs.

[the1gwiz 0]

any of the tri-state area teams

Neither Devils-Isles nor Devils-Rags really has ever had the same fire that Isles-Rangers has had. There's always seemed to be an aspect of respect towards rivalries with the Devils, whereas the Islanders and Rangers have a genuine dislike for each other.

[jay 1]

Leafs - Sens, Leafs - Ottawa, Edmonton - Calgary are all great but my favorite is NYR - NYI. Rangers and Islanders fans are all straight up nuts so it makes for a pretty intense atmosphere. Devil's fans probably would have it NYD - NYR though. Personally I can stomach losing to the Devil's slightly more then the Fishsticks.

[#96 0]

Everyone knows I'm a Ranger fan, but sitting up in the blues and hearing "Beat your wife Potvin" and "Isles Suck" night in and night out is getting to be a bit mundane. And for those who don't know, yes, those chants go on no matter who we're playing.

I'm gonna have to shake things up, suspend disbelief and go against what my fellow Ranger fans might think...I think The Battle for Alberta is pretty big, and certainly Toronto-Ottawa. I've never been to a game in any of those cities, but the build-up and game-time atmosphere seems to be pretty intense from what I read and see on tv.

I used to love the Colorado-Detroit rivalry, but I don't think it's much of a rivalry anymore IMHO. Both teams have lost a lot of the core guys that were around when that stuff was going on. It just doesn't have the same flavor for me.

[top_shelf_24 0]

I know there's bias here as a leafs fan.. but although the intensity of it has gone down, the leafs-habs rivalry has so much history and they are two of the biggest hockey towns in the world. The rivalry there is undeniable.

I've never been to a non-leafs game, but from what I've watched on TV and read about, the NYR-Devils is a good one too

[Chadd 916]

Toronto - Ottawa is the most watchable for me. The "Battle of Alberta games have been piss poor lately and bad hockey is hard to watch, no matter how much the teams (or their fans) hate each other. Rangers - Isles is probably number two.

[chippa13 1844]

I went with Isles/Rags. It seems this has been the only one that really has some genuine animosity. The former best, B's/Habs has almost fallen to a non-rivalry.

[jestrs 0]

I have to agree with Chadd. The Leafs-Senators is the most watchable. The Rangers-Islanders rivalry is gaining quickly.

[Krev 86]

I've always enjoyed watching the first game of the year between Dallas and Colorado. Always has a buzz to it.

[hunterphfr 12]

I went with Isles/Rags. It seems this has been the only one that really has some genuine animosity. The former best, B's/Habs has almost fallen to a non-rivalry.

I bet no one here under 20 even knows The Habs/Bruins had a rivalry. But man I remember the 70s and 80s, full bench clearing brawls before the puck was even dropped. That was even in the playoffs. Those guys hated each other.

Yeah the edge has gone out of the Colorado/Detroit hatred for each other.

[mack 44]

How sad has Chicago come that they can't even be mentioned even if they're one of the oldest franchises around. I miss the early 90s games they'd show against Detroit once Detroit became decent.

[the1gwiz 0]

I bet no one here under 20 even knows The Habs/Bruins had a rivalry. But man I remember the 70s and 80s, full bench clearing brawls before the puck was even dropped. That was even in the playoffs. Those guys hated each other.

Yeah the edge has gone out of the Colorado/Detroit hatred for each other.

Sad but true re: B's/Habs. Although if you asked back then, every team in the Wales probably felt they had a good rivalry with the B's and/or Flyers at some point in that era.

[RadioGaGa 162]

You guys are both right....

Chicago/Detroit & Montreal/Boston should have been in that list. I messed up the poll the first time I entered it...then I forgot to put a bunch in that I had originally thought of.

[mack 44]

Well not necessarily Radio, because I didn't take this as an "all-time" list of best rivalries, so Chicago really wouldn't make a list. I was just commenting on how sad it is in that roughly 10 years Chicago has completely fallen off the radar.

[Bryan Czajka 0]

Detroit-Vancouver

[mack 44]

Or not.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Well not necessarily Radio, because I didn't take this as an "all-time" list of best rivalries, so Chicago really wouldn't make a list. I was just commenting on how sad it is in that roughly 10 years Chicago has completely fallen off the radar.

Well if the NHL gets their way and expands/realigns...whatever...Detroit/Chicago (for whatever a rivalry it still is) will go the way of Detroit/Toronto....although, in an interesting coincidence, Toronto/Detroit will renew a great rivalry.

[D3nZ 0]

For the ones in this poll above, the Habs Vs. Leafs. But the best one of all time is probably Habs. Vs. Nordiques.

[Jordan 13]

The thing about many of the rivalries mentioned is many of them are very intense, but sort of short term. Ones like Leafs-Sens, even Boston-Montreal or the battle of Quebec etc..The Leafs-Habs one is different, it has transcended many eras and the good and the bad for both teams.

I can tell that one of the single most electrifying feelings is 30 minutes before one of these games on a Saturday night in either city. I have been to both many times and it's like there is a buzz, even outside of the building. It much more than just what happens on the ice; it's like you can hear Foster Hewitt or Danny Gallivan!

[Fredrik 0]

Toronto-Ottawa gets my vote...